We're trying to get this project organized into several different committees, encompassing the abilities of all individuals in this project. We realize that not everyone who wants to help is a coder, and there are different activities available for all different skill-sets. For the time being, this is the proposed committee structure. This is simply the proposed structure, comments are welcome. Not all sub-committees will be formed right away.
Comments
Proper place for signing up.
Guys this really isn't the place to sign up for the project. To ensure that you are counted when people are sought please sign up at the volunteer signup page here: http://wiki.okopipi.org/wiki/Volunteer_Signup
I will help report spam
I hate spam so iam glad to help fighting spam
i will volunteer
David sez I will help Report Spam if you want
Can I help?
I would be very interested in the tracking down part of these scumbag spammers. Now I have'nt taken any courses in computers, but I do know my way around them. I can read email headers and have some tools for tracing IP's and e-Mails. Plus the fact that I have the time to offer. I have 3 yrs experience with different types of software and hardware which is all self-taught. So if you can use any of my talents feel free to contact me.
sub groups
I think I can help on this part:
"Spam Identification, Classification, and Interdiction Sub-Committee"
I worked at several abuse departmenents of ISPs and I think I can contribute.
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“Two years from now, spam will be solved,”
(Bill Gates, World Economic Forum, January 2004)
Advertising?
Is advertising under PR or is it going to be a separate subcommittee?
It might be better if they were different committees.
I think I'll take...
"Public Relations & Information Sub-Committee"
would be my first pick, but if that isn't going to get up and running too soon, I think these two might also work.
"Documentation Sub-Committee"
"Research Sub-Committee"
I am definitely flexible so I think I'll work on whichever needs me the most.
I'd like to sign up...
for the Spam identification committee. Please let me know whenever it is possible to join.
Ethics board
Nathan,
That certainly looks like a solid structure and I can see where all the parts of the project would fall into this. My only suggestion is an Ethics board which would advise the steering committee independently on the potential problems (either legal or incidental) of any future plans or research.
Good idea
At the moment the steering committee is taking ethical considerations into concern. Later on, I can potentially see the Legal sub-committee taking on the roll of discussing the legalities of any potential future projects.
And keep in mind that this won't be closed development. Odds are that the community itself around this project will provide all of the ethical guidance that is needed. But if that doesn't happen, I can potentially foresee an ethical committee being formed.
Good public image
I read many complaints labeling Blue Frog as "vigilante" justice.
I beg to differ.
Undoubtedly, some of those reports from actual spammers themselves, who suffered consequences.
I think it good to make clear in the mission statement that this approach is no worse than the millions of botnets that exist that deny that deny and/or pilfer legitimate traffic. The bottom line: if nobody does anything about this, it will continue to get worse.
If someone disagrees with the project, they don't need to participate. Period.
Proof positive in the recent debacle over Blue Frog.
I think using P2P, in a distributed manner, is ideal for this.
We have to be sure that there aren't bugs in the code that would allow the spammers to download a client and begin abusing the process.
An elaboration
I think I may have been a bit unclear on what I was saying in my previous post. The ethical board mandate would not be to make decisions based on Ethics etc but rather advise the committees on potential plans etc. Where appropriate the board would research the impact of plans and decisions on the public as a whole, and finally present suggestions to solve those problems.
You are certainly correct that the community would speak. It would be the job of this board to look suggest solutions to ethical problems brought up by the community.
What is legal and what is ethical are often very different things, while there are certainly some areas that overlap I don't think a Legal committee could fill the role 100%.